Google to Buy Skybox Imaging, a Provider of Satellite Imagery

Google has announced plans to buy Skybox Imaging for $500 million. Skybox is a provider of satellite imagery. Google says Skybox will help it keep Google Maps up-to-date.

Google says in a brief announcement, "Skybox's satellites will help keep Google Maps accurate with up-to-date imagery. Over time, we also hope that Skybox's team and technology will be able to help improve Internet access and disaster relief - areas Google has long been interested in."

Skybox says in a blog post, "We've built and launched the world’s smallest high­-resolution imaging satellite, which collects beautiful and useful images and video every day. We have built an incredible team and empowered them to push the state­-of­-the-­art in imaging to new heights. The time is right to join a company who can challenge us to think even bigger and bolder, and who can support us in accelerating our ambitious vision."

The New York Timesreports that Google could also benefit from Skybox's "ability to launch relatively cheap satellites." The Daily Mailsees live satellite maps as a result of the deal. Google will need to get regulatory approval in order to complete the deal.